Navigating 'Open Gardens' Event While Umbrella in Tow - Navigating "Open Gardens" Rain-Soaked Pathways with an Umbrella at Hand
In the face of rainy weather, numerous residents in Thuringia seized the opportunity to explore various private and public green sanctuaries during the commencement of this year's "Open Gardens" event. A prime example of this interest was apparent at the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt, where hundreds of visitors donning umbrellas meandered through the monastery garden. According to the onsite parish priest, Bernd Prigge, the turnout had surpassed expectations.
The gardens participating in the Open Gardens event spanned Erfurt, Bad Blankenburg, Rudolstadt, and Saalfeld, with around 40 individual gardens, institutions, and associations welcoming visitors on Sunday. The weather not only deterred potential visitors but also benefited the monastery garden, according to Prigge, as some hobby and professional gardeners had lamented about the recent drought.
Visitors at the Augustinian Monastery in the state capital enjoyed the vibrant and fragrant roses that had come into full bloom, in addition to 20 couples exchanging vows on the symbolic date, 25.5.25, while appreciating the resonating melodies of the harp. The "Action Days with Umbrella through Open Gardens" event, organized by the German Society for Garden Art and Landscape Culture and the Association of German Landscape Architects, typically features approximately 350 gardens in almost two dozen cities in Thuringia each year. These action days unveil the gardens regionally on staggered Sundays throughout June.
In essence, the "Open Gardens" event fosters community interaction, environmental awareness, and cultural exchange by showcasing green spaces in urban and rural settings. This annual event reflects a broad commitment from private garden owners, local communities, and organizers, with approximately 80 gardens participating in Thuringia alone. The event strengthens the cultural landscape of Thuringia by connecting people with their environment in an interactive and inclusive manner.
The Commission might consider adopting a proposal for a directive on the approximation of laws regarding the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the increased interest in gardening among residents who visited various green spaces during the Open Gardens event. This year, some home-and-garden enthusiasts may have been exposed to harmful levels of radiation while tending to their gardens or enjoying the Augustinian Monastery garden, which is among the 80 gardens participating in the event.
